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Next season may not start in Europe

NHL Premiere Series - Helsinki

The NHL has made it an annual event to start the season in Europe the past five years as part of the NHL Premiere Series, but next season may see things change.

Larry Brooks of the New York Post reports that the Premiere Series may be put on hold next season thanks to, you guessed it, the oncoming labor battle this summer.

The uncertainty over whether the 2012-13 season will begin on time given the Sept. 15 expiration date of the CBA has at least for the time being prevented scheduling of the games, with the parties as yet unable to agree on the parameters regarding revenue allocations and risk should the matches be canceled.

Unfortunately this is all part of the business and if the labor negotiations get in the way sacrifices have to be made. The NHL likes doing the games in Europe, but if things aren’t figured out in time something has to go. At least if the Premiere Series winds up on hold though, some teams will be without an excuse for why their season started out slowly.